Most school students dream of joining their favorite Premier League clubs – but not many do while completing their schoolwork.
But every now and then, a young man’s weapon bursts onto the scene to grace the top flight.
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Arsenal player Ethan Nwaniri He made history last season when he became the youngest player ever in the league First League Era.
But what happened to the rest of those who got their first taste of the big time when they were still kids? Here Sun Sport takes a look at the top ten youngest stars making their debut in the Prem.
10. Jack Robinson (16 years and 260 days)
Become a defender LiverpoolThe youngest player ever to play in the Premier League when he came off the bench against Hull City in Rafael Benitez’s final match on 9 May 2010.
A number of loan spells at Wolves and Blackpool followed as did international recognition with England from Under-16 level to Under-21 level.
But he left Anfield after making just two appearances for QPR in 2014.
He remained there for four years, on loan to Huddersfield, before joining Nottingham Forest.
Robinson is now back in the Premier League with Sheffield United after helping them to promotion from the Championship last season following their move to Bramall Lane in 2020.
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9. Rhys Oxford (16 years and 236 days)
The 24-year-old has been tipped for big things after captaining England at various youth levels – and announcing his arrival on the big stage in style.
In August 2015, he impressed in his first-team debut as West Ham won 2-0 over Arsenal, but things quickly went wrong.
Despite signing a long-term contract on his 18th birthday, he was transferred on loan to Reading before two spells with Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga followed by another with Augsburg.
The defender then left the Hammers permanently in 2019 and moved to Augsburg after making just seven more Premier League appearances, and remains with the Bundesliga side today.
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8. Rocian Hepburn Murphy (16 years and 198 days)
The 25-year-old Swindon Town striker made his bow off the bench for Aston Villa in a 4-0 win over Sunderland on 14 March 2015.
After graduating from their academy, he played 13 more times in the league for them between loan spells at Cambridge United, Tranmere and Derby.
But the former England Under-20 international left Villa Park for Cypriot side Paphos in 2020 and scored seven goals on his debut in a pre-season friendly.
After five goals in his first season, he missed the entirety of the second through injury, and was eventually released last year, resulting in a free transfer to Swindon, netting eight goals in 32 League Two appearances.
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7. Gary McSheffrey (16 years and 198 days)
The 41-year-old has now had a taste of management himself after a one-season spell at Doncaster.
But in February 1999 he made his debut for Coventry against local rivals Aston Villa and helped them win 4-1.
The former left winger is a Coventry legend after two spells with the Sky Blues, sandwiched between four years at Birmingham.
He also played for clubs such as Nottingham Forest and Leeds before ending his career in non-league after a spell with Doncaster.
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6. Jose Baxter (16 years and 191 days)
The attacking midfielder was tipped to be the next Wayne Rooney when he burst onto the scene for Everton and made his debut on the opening day of the 2008/09 season.
But after just seven Premier League appearances and a loan to Tranmere, he headed to Oldham.
His performances there led to a move to Sheffield United, and he produced the best form of his career for the Blades in League One before being suspended after testing positive for ecstasy in 2016.
Everton offered him a lifeline and a one-year deal after that ban But he was released at the end of the season after failing to appear for the first team.
Baxter went on to play for Oldham again and then with Plymouth before moving to Memphis 901 for a year, retiring aged 29 in 2021.
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5. Aaron Lennon (16 years and 129 days)
The winger came through the ranks of Leeds and was knocked out against Tottenham in a 2-1 loss in August 2003 due to his brace.
Tottenham quickly recognized his potential and he headed to White Hart Lane two years later, where he spent a decade at the north London club.
Lennon also became a regular in the England national team, earning 21 caps, and then signed for Everton after a loan spell there.
Three years at Goodison were followed by two years at Burnley and 12 months ago in Turkey in Kayseri, but he He returned to the Clarets to finish his career and hung up his boots last year.
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4. Izzy Brown (16 years, 117 days)
the previous His young career in England was tragically cut short by injury He retired in April 2023.
He made his debut for West Brom on 4 May 2013 in a 3–2 home loss to Wigan.
Just months later, he controversially moved to Chelsea before the striker embarked on a number of loans at Dutch club Vitesse, Rotherham, Huddersfield, Brighton, Leeds, Luton and Sheffield Wednesday.
After just one Premier League appearance for the Blues, he finally left permanently in 2021 to join Preston, but failed to play a single game for them due to injury and eventually retired.
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3. Matthew Briggs (16 years and 68 days)
Briggs was just 16 when he was included in Laurie Sanchez’s Fulham first team away to Middlesbrough. In May 2007 he told SunSport how he returned to school on the crest of a wave.
But his career at Craven Cottage never took off and he ventured to Millwall, Colchester, Chesterfield and Barnet before dropping back, aged 28, to non-league sides Maldon & Tiptree.
This led to a short spell in Denmark as well as playing internationally for Guyana, having featured for England at various levels up to the Under-21s, but these days he is playing for Horsham at the age of 32.
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2. Harvey Elliott (16 years and 30 days)
The 20-year-old is a first-team regular these days for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and England Under-21s.
But it was with Fulham in 2019 that Elliott made his Premier League debut after replacing Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in a 1-0 defeat away to Wolves.
He left the Cottagers that summer for Anfield and, after impressing on loan at Blackburn in the 2020/21 season, claimed the League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the Reds.
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1. Ethan Nwaneri (15 years 181 days)
tea The Gunners star has rewritten history as the youngest player in the Premier League He is only 15 years old.
Less than 24 hours later, he still turned in his English homework on time, his former teacher revealed to SunSport.
tea The Arsenal sensation replaced Fabio Vieira in the 92nd minute Following a 3-0 win away to Brentford on 18 September 2022, at the age of 15 years and 181 days, he broke the record previously held by Harvey Elliott.
He signed a long-term contract with the club over the summer and Mikel Arteta has high hopes for the youngster.
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